Where's all the traffic? And no bugs!!! Photo courtesy of Ingrid Maschmeyer

With wildlife sightings up and highway traffic down not to mention the bug population, now is my favorite time to take a trip Along the Alaska Highway.

I’ve been numerous times and every year it is different. This year, for whatever reason, traffic is down and the animals know it. You don’t have to go far to appreciate this unique destination.
Stone mountain sheep hightailing it down the highway. Photo courtesy of Ingrid Maschmeyer

To get to the Highway, take the Glenn Highway out of Anchorage to Glennallen, make a left on the Richardson Highway and then take the Tok cutoff. You’re there.

Or if you are headed out of Fairbanks, take the Richardson Highway to Delta Junction the official terminus of the highway or the beginning, however you like to look at the glass.

My favorite close destination Along the Alaska Highway is Haines Junction, Yukon, the jumping off spot for Canada’s Kluan National Park. Here you can stay or camp at nearby Kathleen Lake. It’s spectacular and a reminder of why we all love this part of the world. Plus it’s only a two day drive away from Anchorage.

If you have the time, Muncho Lake, B.C. in Northern BC is my next choice with a stop at Laird Hot Springs, B.C. along the way. While four days plus away from Anchorage the scenery in between is remarkable and as I’ve mentioned, this year, you are bound to see numerous bear, bison, stone sheep and who knows what else.

Given that Highway traffic is down, you will also be helping out the local highway vendors who depend on summer traffic to make their year-round income. They are great people and a real perk of travel Along the Alaska Highway.